Minnesota · McLeod County
Marion Lake Fishing guide
Marion Lake sits in McLeod County, Minnesota, and covers 520 acres, reaching 15.2 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 2.4 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 26 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2019One of the best around26.6per gill net17"Typical29"Biggest
Lengths measured · 717 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023 + 2025Lengths measured · 109 fish
2025Lengths measured · 206 fish
2025Lengths measured · 39 fish
2024Lengths measured · 111 fish
2023Largemouth bassPresent0.6per gill net7"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 15 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023 + 2025Lengths measured · 1 fish
2025Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 7 fish
2023Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 7 fish
2021Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 36 fish
2019Northern pikeJust a few3.2per gill net21"Typical32"Biggest
Lengths measured · 86 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023 + 2025Lengths measured · 39 fish
2025Lengths measured · 9 fish
2023Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 38 fish
2021Lengths measured · 10 fish
2019BluegillPresent2per gill net6"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 67 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023 + 2025Lengths measured · 16 fish
2025Lengths measured · 12 fish
2023Lengths measured · 16 fish
2023Lengths measured · 23 fish
2021CrappiePresent99.5per gill net6"Typical14"Biggest
Lengths measured · 3193 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023 + 2025Lengths measured · 754 fish
2025Lengths measured · 507 fish
2023Lengths measured · 56 fish
2023Lengths measured · 1876 fish
2021Yellow perchOne of the best around96.3per gill net6"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 2600 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023 + 2025Lengths measured · 1010 fish
2025Lengths measured · 1457 fish
2023Lengths measured · 133 fish
2021Lengths measured · 82 fish
2019Channel catfishFair numbers1.2per gill net23"Typical29"Biggest
Lengths measured · 32 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023 + 2025Lengths measured · 5 fish
2025Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 8 fish
2023Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 19 fish
2021Lengths measured · 47 fish
2019Rates come from standard DNR survey gear (gill nets, trap nets, electrofishing), judged against statewide benchmarks for the same gear, so the same number of fish per net can read differently for two species. Where the standard gear can't count a species reliably, only presence and size are listed. Typical is the middle fish of those measured. Open a row for the full length spread, survey by survey.
How to fish Marion Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. In 2.4 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- Early summer
- Walleye are setting up on the outside weed edge, points and shallow structure.
- Summer
- Walleye are working the weed edge, points and any wind-blown structure. With 100% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows. A 15.2-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn. In 2.4 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- Early summer
- Largemouth are on the shallow spawning flats and protected bays, where beds go on firm bottom next to isolated cover.
- Summer
- Largemouth are in and along the weeds: cabbage and milfoil edges, matted cover and shade. With 100% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze. A 15.2-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
Season patterns for each species. Open the live map for today's wind, light and water temp.
Size history
Biggest fish by survey year
| Survey year | Walleye | Largemouth bass | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 25" | 11" | 29" |
| 2024 | 14" | — | — |
| 2023 | 27" | 6" | 31" |
| 2022 | 7" | — | — |
| 2021 | 29" | 9" | 32" |
| 2019 | 27" | 19" | 33" |
| 2017 | 15" | — | — |
| 2015 | 25" | 20" | 32" |
Longest fish measured by DNR survey crews in each year's nets. Survey gear samples the population, so the lake usually holds larger fish than any survey measured.
Suggested tackle
What to bring
Top presentations for this lake's structure and clarity:
Walleye · Live bait
Live-Bait (Lindy) Rig + Leech/Crawler
jumbo leech or half a nightcrawler
Walleye · Trolling
Snap Weights + Stickbaits
4–5" suspending or slow-floating stickbait
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Hollow-Body Frog
3–3.5" hollow-body frog
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Muskie & pike
Soft Rubber (Bull Dawg / Medusa)
10" soft rubber body bait
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
DNR stocking records
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Stocked |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Walleye | 520,000 fry |
| 2017 | Walleye | 520,000 fry |
| 2016 | Walleye | 519,008 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
A targeted survey (fall nighttime electrofishing) was conducted on Marion Lake on September 10th, 2025, to evaluate young of the year (YOY) and yearling Walleye abundance. A total of 101 YOY were sampled for a catch rate of 101.0 fish/hr., which was above the lake's historical (1994 to 2025) median (30.0 fish/hr.). This indicated that a substantial YOY year class was present. In 2025, the average length for YOY was 7.5 inches, which was above Marion's historical mean (6.9 inches). Walleye fry were not stocked in 2025, so those fish were the result of natural reproduction. In 2025, a total of 0 yearlings were sampled for a catch rate of 0.0 fish/hr., which was tied with Marion's lowest historical (2017 to 2025) yearling catch rate on record. Of interest, high numbers of yearling Walleye were sampled in the 2025 gill net assessment, indicating that fall electrofishing yearling catch rates are not always a reliable indicator of year class strength at Marion Lake. Due to the significant natural reproduction of Walleye at Marion, the lake will only be stocked with Walleye fry if two consecutive fall electrofishing catch rates drop below 20 YOY/hr. Walleye fry were last stocked in 2019. Marion Lake is electrofished annually.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Marion Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Marion Lake from guides, tournaments and regular anglers. Anything posted in the last two weeks also bumps the matching spots on the live map, so you'll see a "matches a recent report" tag on them.
Public water access
Getting on the water
- Marion Lake (E) (trailer launch)
- Marion Lake (SE) (carry-in)
- Marion Lake Fishing Pier (fishing pier)
- Marion Lake Fishing Site (shore fishing)
DNR bathymetry
Marion Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Otter Lake · 642 ac · 6.7 mi
- Preston Lake · 655 ac · 7.5 mi
- Round Grove Lake · 296 ac · 7.9 mi
- Allie Lake · 509 ac · 8.5 mi
- Schilling Lake · 763 ac · 10.7 mi
- French Lake · 42 ac · 10.7 mi
- Clear Lake · 82 ac · 11.1 mi
- Swan Lake · 352 ac · 11.1 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Marion Lake?
Marion Lake reaches 15.2 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 10 ft; about 100% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Marion Lake?
Marion Lake covers 520 acres with about 6.7 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Marion Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Marion Lake average 2.4 ft of visibility, on the stained end for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Marion Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, channel catfish.
Is Marion Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2019; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Marion Lake have a public access?
Yes. Marion Lake has 4 public access sites, including Marion Lake (E) (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Marion Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 29"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2015.
When was Marion Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Marion Lake in 2025, the most recent of 26 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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